Rodney Hennigan interview with Mary Nichelson

Rodney Hennigan’s sole mission in writing My Father’s Giftis simple;  join (him) in the outdoors and be prepared to embark on adventures of a lifetime. While it does sound less complex than pitching a tent, nothing is simplistic about this memoir. When Rodney invites the reader along for adventure, he extends a meaningful proposition to live vicariously through him as he parents with purpose and sets a humble example of making the most of each day. He never exactly went looking for the incidents he writes about, but neither does he shy away from what each experience taught him. “Consider these facts: The book is truthful, so the stories happened. Folks, you can’t make up the stories contained in the book. I know I couldn’t. So what I did write down was a simple chronological accounting of the events as they had occurred in real life, using my storytelling ability, in my own words, as if I was telling the story to my sons.”

I was honored to be able to discuss My Father’s Giftrecently with Rodney and learned that the author is as animated and passionate about life and fatherhood as is represented in his book.

MN- I was very impressed with the press kit that accompanied your book, My Father’s Gift: A Louisiana Outdoor Legacy. From an author’s perspective, what is harder, writing or marketing your book?

RH- Mary before I begin to answer the question I must also thank you for the kind words regarding the press kit and your generous support. You caught me by surprise when you used it for your Press Kit 101 example in your website, Mary’s World. (http://www.marysworld411.com)

You played a large part in its creation by asking if I had one available. You caught me unprepared; I did not. Your prompting resulted in the brain storming sessions involving me and Ms. Pat Fox and Mrs. Stephanie Young-Ryder. Pat and Stephanie are two very talented special ladies.  Pat was the first on board after reading the book.  She was the first to volunteer to offer her precious time, public skills, and personal finances free of encumbrances to help promote the sharing of the stories contained in the book with other readers. Stephanie followed her example soon after. I had no knowledge of this wonderful woman at all until I had the privilege to meet her for the first time during my first book signing/speaking event held in in Crossroad’s, a local Christian book/gift store. It was just before last Father’s Day and my first public speaking engagement. I didn’t think I was doing well, my nerves were shot, but she ended up purchasing two of the books to give as gifts for the upcoming day of celebration. It was quite an honor.  However, she read the book and soon contacted me afterward to say how much she loved it and wanted to volunteer her services/time to promote it and help share it with others, as Ms. Pat had. I am extremely grateful to all of these precious readers, but you must know there is something very important to me all must understand, it is a God thing with me, as Pat and Stephanie likes to often point out. So all of the honor, glory and praise I personally receive is passed onward to Him, for it is He I am most grateful for.

MN- You are a gifted storyteller as you create pictures in the mind of your readers. I am sure you have been told that a few times along the way, am I correct?

RH- Yes, you are. Readers with whom I have had the privilege to have personal contact with all tell me the same thing. Each inform me they had the experience of immediately becoming a part of the story in the book and joined in the grand adventures filled with the same emotions as I and three of my seven sons, literally. I was kind of glad to hear this, for it is true, ‘misery does enjoy company.”

Meanwhile, other readers (some considered professional) have often compared my writing skills to the likes of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemons) and Patrick F. McManus, perhaps the greatest outdoor writer of humor. Another reader, Roger, enlisted the aid of an editor to help me with the commas for free. The editor’s name is Chick. He said pages flowed like a river and recommended I read Ernest Hemingway. What all of this means or what it will lead to, I do not know. But I could never have imagined being mentioned in the same company of these great writers before, but nevertheless it is the judgment of readers. Two have sent me copies of Patrick’s work to read and make their case. Although I know it shouldn’t have, it surprised me to learn I had broken Patrick’s golden rule as for as the writing of humor is concerned. I learned this by reading one of the books sent to me by a reader, Mr. Booth. The title of this piece of fine literary work is: The Deer on a Bicycle: Excursions into the Writing of Humor. It’s a well written/informative how-to-write-humor book. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to everyone, but I’ll quote what rule number one is for you. It is short and succinct and gets right to the point, something I cannot do. Rule number one is this,‘Never write about real life humor.’ I almost quit reading his book and quit writing after reading rule number one on page forty. Thank God, the readers have my back.

MN- I have always believed we need to be more vigilant about passing down stories to our children from our lives and even our parent’s generation. I love to see that you have capitalized on this concept as well. How can parents who are not artistic or creative enough to pen a book do so?

RH- Thank you for asking this question Mary. It is a good one and I couldn’t agree with you more. I believe it to be everyone’s duty to bear witness to help others learn. A direct result of my taking the giant leap of faith to write and publishMy Father’s Gift is that I continue to receive the privilege of meeting several good and interesting people. One of which is the Red Chief Bud Dark Cloud Grimes of the Cherokee American Indian people. Dark Cloud had read the book, contacted me and asked for an audience and I drove to meet with him. He placed me in front of him and peered deeply into my startled eyes. What he was doing was this; he penetrated my soul, to the core. And I knew it. He began speaking words and promptly sent me into shock. The words coming from his mouth and entering my stunned ears to be deciphered by a scrambled brain informed me that he, the Red Chief Bud Dark Cloud Grimes, by reading My Father’s Gift: A Louisiana Outdoor Legacy had determined I had, ‘Done a good thing for man and God. By writing down this true family story and having the heart to share it with the people, so they may be thus inspired to serve the Great Creator of all things good and thus, all people.”

He presented me with a beautiful feather to wear in my hair so, as he further stated, ‘so all of the Indian people will recognize you as a person who has done a good thing for man and God.’

The point is: This is a family historical event for the Hennigans and people of races other than American Indian. For a white man to be thus honored by a Red Chief in this way is a rarity. A Red Chief is the spiritual leader of his people. If this story is not told, the feather I wear today is simply that, a feather. Now however, it represents a great honor and an inspirational story with staying power. I can pass the feather to one of my children upon my demise and it will have meaning for him, perhaps all the boys will take turns wearing it and sharing the story of their dad and what he did. Who knows?

The beauty of this is you do not need to worry about being creative enough to pen a book or even worry over how to spell properly or in my case, those dad blasted commas. Just tell the stories and preserve the all-important family history, which is often the history of the world, for future generations. The roots become thicker and life through memory continues. Witness, witness, witness, I can’t say more.

MN- It is obvious in your writing that you love being outside and fully embrace God’s creation as some of your stories include nature-tornadoes, fires, and canoeing. Do you think that you have successfully passed this love of nature to your sons?

RH- You are right, I do embrace God’s wonderful gift of the great outdoors. He and His Precious Gift to mankind have blessed me tremendously while I’ve spent time witnessing nature in action while in solitude. A day came where the pursuit of game awakened a part of me that drove home the point He really does have a unique plan for each of us. My life journey of faith through acceptance and believing filled with hope took a giant leap to one of knowing and being secure. I don’t think I’m telling you anything new here, but there is a huge difference between believing and actually knowing. Consider every species of plant, animal, insect, bird, or fish. Each has a delicate role to play in the balance of nature and thus, life and the delicate balance of the world. Every interaction provides a small piece of the beautiful mosaic puzzle of the circle of life as we know it, in its entirety. And as glorious as this exhibit of nature is, there is one more beautiful waiting on those of us who choose to make the right choice to accept the Truth.

My son Daniel  joined the Louisiana National Guard. Before leaving for boot camp he had to spend a weekend in the field with the unit. I drove the nervous new recruit to the pick-up point. He had stayed up all night and his nerves were shot. He didn’t know what to expect. The bus filled with soldiers and at least one green recruit left me alone in the parking lot. I watched it leave in the early morning darkness and wondered how he will do and praying for the best. The phone rang a day later. I answered and was surprised to find it was my new guardsman calling. His voice was filled with excitement.

“Hey Dad, you’re not going to believe this!”

“What?”

“I was worried over nothing. They’re paying me two hundred and fifty dollars this weekend to camp out in the middle of the woods with a bunch of cool guys and outdoor girls. And we’re all shooting some awesome guns! Dad, I can’t believe they’re paying me to have this much fun!”

“SSHHH! QUITE SON!”

“What is it?”

“The paymaster may be nearby listening. He may sense a weakness and try to dock your wages. Now hang up and get back to work. Time is a wasting. Calm down, the torture will be over before you know it and you’ll be able to fill in the horrible details for me when you get home.”

We both hung up laughing and I felt much better. My other boys aren’t much different.

MN- You are an accomplished communicator and successful writer and speaker. You have made many contributions to magazines and have been written about in publications including USA Today. When did you realize this was something you wanted to do?

RH- I find some folks have difficulty accepting this fact when I try to relate it, but to do otherwise would be a grave disservice to everyone, especially my precious readers, and most importantly to the One who caught my undivided attention in the woods one day, long ago, six-and-a-half years ago to be more precise. When the incident I’m talking about concluded I knew I had to start writing. It was/is that simple. I never had the desire to write before that moment occurred and struggled with the realization I must afterward. Nor did I ever want my name to be shared in public discourse or on the cover of a book. When it became obvious I would be forced to make the attempt to become known as an author, I struggled with what I termed “The Doubting Thomas Effect.”

I constantly asked myself and others if I was in my right mind. Really, who in their right mind with a high school education would willingly and knowingly throw his precious family out there, to risk burdening them with embarrassment, and perhaps come under negative public scrutiny or criticism. I was perfectly content with my station in life and in who I am. The Lord has blessed me mightily. There is nothing else I need.  I certainly did not want to do this writing thing. But after receiving the privilege of witnessing a prayer in the act of being answered before my very eyes through the loving actions of a complete stranger in the heart of the great Atchafalaya Delta, the world’s largest swamp, miles from civilization and the most unlikely of places, I knew I had to start the writing process.

MN- You are very involved with your family. Not all families are as traditional and many fathers experience road blocks in being an ideal role model. Young fathers are gone many hours a day trying to bring in enough money to take care of their family, while other fathers only get to see their children on weekends due to divorce. How can they be involved fathers that can still make a positive impact on their children with limited time?

RH- Oh dear Mary, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you might have made a common mistake I used to make all the time and still occasionally do. You see, it is true, we do have a traditional family and we do give thanks for it and ask for guidance on a daily basis to keep it so, but the road has not always been easy. I must take issue with any perception I may be the “ideal role model.” God help us all if I am. Being a father is a constant work in progress. There is always much to learn. If I am successful at the end, maybe at least one of my boys will declare I am ‘good.” Oh, to be so blessed!

What I have done is try to keep in mind the fact anything worth having is worth working hard for and doing your best at it. When times are tough it’s good to always remember commitment is the key to building a good and healthy relationship, whether it is personal or spiritual. No one said it will be easy. It takes a conscious loving willfulness to remain committed to and/or dedicated to building a solid relationship with anybody. Discard selfishness and stay rooted in the Cornerstone of God’s love and soon you will discover you have unwittingly enlisted the aid of your precious child and/or family. Others, perhaps former strangers, will soon be stepping up to lend a helping hand and you will soon be on your way to a glorious adventure!  Ponder the following and I assure you, life will become much more bearable and you can come to expect to receive everlasting rewards.

Talk to God in prayer multiple times on a daily basis, whether troubled or not. Now we recognize He is working for us. So try paying on your debt to Him by allowing yourself to be used to do something good or loving for another.   Allow your offspring the gift of seeing your ability to love others in action. They’ll often offer to help.   I pray continuously for the inner strength, the help to become ever more determined to endure character building trials and to accept His will. We all have them.   I strongly recommend one to read or listen to the gospel and try to learn to place your trust in Jesus, all of it. Focus. Find a nice quiet place outdoors, perhaps a park under the shade of a tree near a pond and open your heart in preparation to receive Jesus’ truthful words. Pause to ponder and listen to the silent wind whispering through the leaves. Before you know it hours will have passed in a blink of an eye. Always ask questions while seeking the Truth in all things.   Give everything and everyone you encounter what I call the “God test.” Start by asking yourself if what you are encountering at any given time is a good thing for everyone. If it isn’t, reject it. Remember sometimes trouble can’t be avoided and is necessary for us to learn and grow.    Be prepared to stand your ground and never willfully lie.

Sometimes it helps to recall the “lessons” of the past to gain strength. You know the ones, those long ago forgotten difficulties designed to crush us in their time. Yet we survived and then we promptly went to work trying to forget the pain, do so, and then are doomed to repeat the same mistake. Stop! Forgive the offender (it may be one’s self) and hold onto the memory of the pain. It reminds us not to play with “fire,” what not to do. And they serve as reminders to teach how to recognize His constant good presence and workings.  Keep in mind He is gracious and good. He often allows other people with good hearts to be vessels do His Will for Him. Oh, to be so blessed to be one of these. Become proactive. There is no gain in any relationship with a child by remaining sitting on the high fence separating one from the other. Leave your worries behind with Him and jump off to continue your wonderful journey, climb down if you must and go play. Just get moving; for what we do know is precious time is short. The children will be grown before you know it and they will begin their own journey with what you have taught them.

Always put your priorities in order. There are times the earning of money must take a back seat. The purchase of new things can wait. Other things can’t. Some things must be given the highest priority. Our children are one of these “high priorities.” They need our time, our love, and our personal displays of affection more than a new game console of distraction, more than any material thing. Especially when they are young and impressionable. We need their loving attention as well. Each of mine have taught me a lot.  To sum it up: The best thing we can invest in our children is our personal time. There is a time to do good work, a time to play hard, a time to expose the heart to love. Time spent with a child combines all three of these and is well spent. It’s up to the individual to discover the balance.  I have found the best legacy to give your children is one with no end, one filled with joyful life rooted in a Good Memory.   I cannot stress the following too much. Always spend as much time as possible with the family and/or child: Focus. Focus. Focus. Keep God first. And stay focused. Continuously search for the proper balance with everything.

MN- Complete this sentence. “This Father’s Day, more than ever, I would like my sons to know……..”

RH- I thank God each day for the privilege of being your dad. Each one of you is a fine example of the best a man could hope to have as a son. You have brought great joy and pleasure into my life, never trouble and provide my life meaning. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU. You know I love each and every one of you and want nothing but the best “life” for you, whether you choose to dig ditches or become president. It’s your choice. I’ve done my best to teach you to follow your heart and not become entrapped by the false demands of the world. And I hope my tendency to get into trouble has not caused you too much discomfort and you have not inherited it. If you have, feel free to blame me. And if so, I beg forgiveness, but you know it’ll continue. But don’t worry, I’ve been grabbing that ol’ bull by the horns for so long, we’re actually starting to like it and have some fun. May God bless you all!

My Father’s Gift: A Louisiana Outdoor Legacy can be ordered online by visiting: www.rodneyhennigan.com.

If you wish to place a mail order or would wish to discuss a speaking engagement please contact Rodney via email. The address is: rodneyhennigan@rodneyhennigan.com.

Please visit My Father’s Gift on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/My-Fathers-Gift/228740593813128) to keep up with recent activities of the book and/or Rodney.

Author bio: Rodney is a husband, father, a natural Louisiana outdoorsman and now, an exciting new author. He is also a railroad conductor nearing retirement and realizes he has indeed been blessed to be the father of seven wonderful sons, all of which have been a tremendous joy to raise.

Rodney remains humbled by the written and unwritten adventures he has experienced. He willfully and truthfully acknowledges each one as a gift from our God of love, and he thanks all of you who have offered prayers of support on his effort to spread the good news. Rodney has had many of his stories recognized and published both locally and nationally in newspapers and outdoor magazines. Rodney's prayer for you is simply this: May you soon reach the waypoint in your spiritual journey of faith to receive the same surprising joy he has found with the discovery there is a real difference between the active desire to believe and knowing that God is a very real, loving and attentive Father, from whom all good things come.

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

Other interviews featured in The Wordsmith Journal: David Vince, William D. Burt, and Bryan Liftin.

This interview is courtesy of  The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

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Bryan Liftin Interview with Mary Nichelson

When Mark Elfstrand, Executive Producer and Host of the radio show Morning Ride, asks the question, “Ever wonder about a world with an almost-absence of God?”, author Bryan Litfin rises to the challenge and provides the answer in his action-packed, adventure and romance laden series The Chiveis Trilogy.

Litfin, a theology professor turned weekend writer, has penned an addicting fantasy series that has readers comparing him to Stephen Lawhead and anticipating each addition to the trilogy. With the release of The Kingdom, the final installment in the series comes enthusiasm for some, melancholy to see the series end for others. Understandable in that Litfin has successfully engaged his readers into the plots of each book, and some reviewers have admitted to thinking about the characters long after the last page was turned. I recently asked Litfin about the basis of The Chiveis series, what it was like to get an endorsement by Jerry B. Jenkins, and if his readers could expect another Chiveis-like series in the near future.

MN- One reviewer of The Chiveis Trilogy wrote, “Entertaining, but not highly realistic.” For readers that do not fully understand the premise, can you explain what The Chiveis Trilogy is?

BL- I definitely wanted to write an entertaining series with lots of swashbuckling adventures that will keep the reader turning of the pages. The premise of the Chiveis Trilogy is that there's a terrible virus in the year 2042, which leads to a global nuclear war that wipes out most of earth's population. But that's just the prologue, the setup. The story itself is set four centuries from now--yet it is neither futuristic science fiction nor post-apocalyptic dystopia. Instead, the novels read more like sword-and-horse adventure stories set in a chivalrous context. There are no magical devices or mythical creatures--it's all happening in our real world. This isn't fantasy fiction. A noble kingdom has developed in the Swiss Alps (Schweiz is the German name for Switzerland, and in my imagination the word has evolved to be pronounced "Chiveis"). The people have gotten back to a medieval level of technology. However, the Bible has been lost and the Christian religion is forgotten. So the central story question is, "What if there were a people who had no knowledge of Christianity, and then suddenly a Bible were discovered...what would happen?" The hero and heroine find a Bible and strive to bring the message of its God to their land.

MN- It must have been an amazing moment for you when you got the endorsement on the series by Jerry B. Jenkins. Did that surprise you or did you have a sense going into this that it would be well received?

BL- It was indeed an amazing moment because I respect Jerry so much as a writer, and even more so, as a spiritual leader. He is the chairman of the Board of Trustees for Moody Bible Institute (the college where I teach) so I know him a little bit in that capacity. A few years back I had the privilege of going on a small church history cruise in the Mediterranean, so I got to know Jerry and his wife in that setting. He is such a hilarious guy, he always keeps everyone laughing. And we all know he is a great writer. But what stands out about Jerry Jenkins to me is that he is a godly man who is providing strong leadership for my school. I was very grateful that he would endorse a novel from a new fiction writer like me.

MN- The third book in the trilogy was just released, and obviously that means it is the final in the series. Does The Kingdom neatly tie up all of the storylines with closure or will there be any left that will cause the reader to presume their own ending?

BL- I really hope that I tie up the story lines. I don't want the reader to have to make up an ending. It seems unfair to do that to someone after he or she has journeyed so far with the characters. So I would suggest that all the plot points raised in the story do find their resolution in the third book. Writing The Kingdom was challenging because it not only had to conclude its own self-contained story, but also the macro story of the trilogy. I hope the reader will feel I have done that. I believe I owe this to the reader who has come to love Teo and Ana (the central protagonists). However, what is left open-ended is the expectation that they didn't quit having adventures together after the story ends. They are just not that sort of people. "Happily ever after" for them could not be some kind of settled and tame existence. They are both boundary-pushers, so the novel leaves you with the sense that new horizons will open up to them after you turn the last page. However, I don't have any plans to actually write those stories. I think the trilogy tells one grand narrative from beginning to end -- the return of the true God and his eternal Word to Europe.

MN- Sometimes when you have a series this popular with readers, it isn’t long before you see it on the small or large screen. Any word on whether the series will be made into a movie of sorts?

BL- I would love to see this made into a movie, but I can't imagine it happening because the production values would be huge. You'd have to have all kinds of costuming and props and so many characters and lots of locations in castles and cathedrals and so forth. The trilogy is sort of epic as it sweeps you from the highest alpine mountains to the Black Forest of Germany to the Italian Riviera to the grandeur of Rome to the fiery slopes of Mt. Etna on Sicily to the cities of Marseilles and Geneva and then back to the Swiss Alps again. Really, the cost would be prohibitive. The publisher did, however, make a cool video trailer which might provide a hint of what a movie could be like. It is available on the web at www.chiveis.com. Just click on the banner that says "Watch the New Chiveis Trailer." I suppose if anyone wants to make this into a full length movie, they could contact Crossway.

MN- As a professor at Moody Bible Institute, you have said that your greatest joy comes from investing in your students, especially when you can take them on study tours. Where have you been able to travel with your students, and what is a typical tour like?

BL- I just returned a few days ago from one of those tours. It was fun to get Facebook messages that the third book was starting to move on Amazon, even as I was sitting on a balcony looking at the actual snow-capped peaks of Chiveis! Moody has fantastic students, and it is both my responsibility and my privilege to teach them theology and church history. Over the years I have taken students on academic tours to places such as Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France. These lands are layered into the narrative. As we traipse around the continent exploring the history of our faith, I also look for fascinating story settings. Whether or not every reader picks it up, the Chiveis Trilogy is absolutelyloaded with historical and theological references. The ancient and medieval landscape of Europe is such an important part of this series. In fact, the third book provides an appendix that explains the real-world locations behind the made-up place names.

Perhaps I might also add a word here about the dedication that I make in The Kingdom. My dear friend Dr. Jeff Ligon died of a brain tumor a few months ago. Jeff was a big part of this trilogy because twice he met me in Europe and we struck off on our own as I did research for the books. He drove the car while I imagined the plot. So many of the story locations in the three novels are places we visited together. Sometimes we even happened on a place by chance, and those spots were so cool, they had to go into one of the books! All of this is to say, it is a hallmark of the Chiveis Trilogy that its locations are real places in Europe which can be visited today.

MN- You are a history buff as it applies to world history and church history. How can past events influence the world view of the modern generation?

BL- This is a great question, and the answer to it is what I try to do in my "real" job -- which is not to be a novelist, but a professor. I very much believe our modern generation needs to have a greater sense of connection to the past, and in particular the ancient past. What I mean is that contemporary Christians (especially Evangelicals) need to rediscover their roots in the ancient church, that is to say, the "early church fathers." Evangelicals today are extremely untethered to the catholic church (by which I don't mean Roman Catholicism, but simply the orthodox faith passed down through the ages). In our churches today, anything goes. Churches and their pastors make up stuff as they go along. Where's the sense of rootedness in the ancient past? Where is true, historic Christianity as expressed by the church fathers and encapsulated by the Apostles' Creed? Why do our churches feel more like shopping malls or movie theaters than sacred spaces? Where has all the mysterygone? The problem is, we have lost our ties to the forefathers -- and foremothers -- who have made us who we are. If someone wants to read more about this subject, my bookGetting to Know the Church Fathers was written to provide a helpful introduction to our spiritual ancestors from the ancient period.

MN- It was interesting to me to read that you helped open a Christian school in Wheaton using the classical model of education. Can you define what a classical model of education is and why it is so important?

BL- My interest in classical education goes hand in hand with my appreciation of the ancient past. Helping to start Clapham School in Wheaton was a privilege that my wife and I had a few years ago. Classical education is simply the way people were educated during the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, continuing through the Middle Ages, and indeed, it's the way many Europeans are still being educated today. Unfortunately, many American schools have abandoned the world's great ideas--as expressed in art, history, poetry, philosophy, politics--so that today it seems what matters most is a kid's self-esteem. In contrast, classical education is an approach that leads a child not into himself, but toward an encounter with the great minds that have shaped Western society. The model uses the "Trivium" -- grammar, logic and rhetoric. In other words, it first teaches fundamental building blocks, then teaches you how to think logically about them, and finally teaches you to express yourself beautifully and persuasively. This works fine as a secular model, but it works even better as a way of bringing all culture under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The name ‘Clapham’ comes from a group of Christians associated with the British evangelical politician William Wilberforce who fought for the abolition of the slave trade. The members of the so-called Clapham Sect used their wisdom and eloquence for the glory of God and for justice on earth until the Savior returns. To me that is the true purpose of education.

MN- Are there any more writing projects on the horizon that your fans can be looking for?

BL- Fiction fans might have to wait a little bit. My next project is a non-fiction book in which I will provide easy-to-read translations of several ancient Greek and Latin texts written about the martyrs of the early church who died for their faith in Jesus. However, I do hope to return to fiction in the near future, if God allows it. And if I do, the novels will be like the Chiveis Trilogy -- full of action, adventure, romance, and best of all ... theology!

Author bio- Bryan Litfin was born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in a Christian home as the son of a seminary professor, pastor, and college president. In addition to Texas, he has lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and Oxford, England.

Bryan earned a bachelor's degree in print journalism from the University of Tennessee as well as a master's degree in historical theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. From there he went to the University of Virginia, taking a PhD in the field of ancient church history. He is currently professor of theology at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago, where he has been since 2002. He teaches courses in theology, church history, and Western civilization from the ancient and medieval periods. He is the author of Getting to Know the Church Fathers: An Evangelical Introduction (Brazos, 2007), as well as several scholarly articles and essays. Bryan has always enjoyed epic adventure stories as well as historical fiction, but most of his reading these days is taken up by academia.

Today Bryan lives in downtown Wheaton in a Victorian house built in 1887. He and his wife Carolyn are parents to two children. For recreation Bryan enjoys basketball, traveling, and hiking anywhere there are mountains. The Litfins attend College Church in Wheaton, where Bryan has served on the Board of Missions and as a deacon. He also helped start Clapham School, a Christian primary school in Wheaton using the classical model of education.

To learn more about author Bryan Litfin or for ordering information, visit http://chiveis.com/index.html

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

Other interviews featured in the July edition of The Wordsmith Journal: Rodney Hennigan, David Vince, and William D. Burt.

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine

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Judith Hugg Interview with Mary Nichelson

While To See the Sky is hailed as “a great gift for those who are not perfect in their faith and who struggle with meaning and purpose”,  it is also for readers that have a grasp on their relationship with God, but long for a refreshing reminder of what that relationship is, and more importantly, isn’t. Hugg invites the reader to trade their complacency for wonder, as they realize there is purpose in every experience, even if the meaning isn’t clearly illustrated.

“To See The Sky is about seeing with the heart, finding a healthy way through the losses of life, and about having a well-exercised funny bone. I think God's grace involves more letting go than The Epic Struggle to find God.” Perhaps fully embracing God's grace is what motivates Hugg to write for her readers and then donate proceeds from her book to places like the Community Soup Kitchen. She exemplifies in word and deed the proverb ‘Let go and let God’ and is not ashamed to explain how she came to this place in her spiritual journey.

MN-You have said that your book, To See The Sky, is your love note to God. Explain what you mean by that.

JH-My life is surrendered to being Christ’s light in the world, and “To See the Sky: Vignettes of Grace” is my homage to the incredible power of God’s presence and His hilarious grace in my life! I’ve written articles and poetry for years, but it was time to finally assemble the stories of God showing up in my life and make them a book, my thanks to Him for never letting me go!

MN-Your dialogue is very theatrical and can I say, delicious in an artistic sense. You write with an intuitive accuracy. Have you always been connected with the world as effortlessly as you write about your experiences?

JH-Since I was a child, I’ve always felt that connection—and maybe this is a universally childlike link—to a Power in the universe who was manifest in the beauty of nature. That’s where my faith in Christ started. That’s what still heals me when the world is out to turn my heart into mulch. My faith has matured with a foundation in Scripture and an active membership in a great church with brothers and sisters who keep me in line (or they at least try!), plus a very active prayer and meditation life, but when I’m hurting or tired or stressed, an hour in a quiet field, or on a swing, or by some water restores my soul because God is waiting there for me. There is spiritual nourishment in the first scent of the lilacs blooming on a warm spring day that is like no other tonic on earth!

When I was in high school, I wrote a letter to Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles) who I was just discovering at the time, and I asked him if he was always so aware--if, when he was a child, he was really so sensitive to nature and to the vibrancy of life as his young characters were. (It was a school assignment, but I really wanted to know, as I was struggling to leave my own childhood behind.) His response (which I am able to pull off a shelf in my living room as I write this; I am a major fan!), in his own handwriting, was “YES, YES, YES! I ALWAYS KNEW!” Well, it turns out, I did too!

MN-I love your honesty. At one point, when writing about unanswered prayers for the sick, you admit “I don’t know what to do with that fact in my life of faith.” How were you able to make peace with not knowing or fully understanding everything regarding God?

JH-In chapter 13 of Job, he says “though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” (KJV) Now there’s some FAITH! (Though the next line has to do with Job arguing his case with God…) Before my father died, I would’ve said something bold like that; I thought I could take anything, with Christ strengthening me. But then Dad died, and my faith was laid bare. I had begged God to heal my father, and the answer was no. My trust in God was an open, festering wound for a while. I couldn’t pray; I couldn’t go to church. I was a follower of Christ, but I couldn’t find Him anywhere, as I say in the book. I was in unbearable pain, and I found myself drawn to our town’s soup kitchen. And I went there, looking for Christ. Every Sunday, I would go and join whatever team was there, and I would chop vegetables and stir soup, and then I would stand in the line where the local working poor and homeless and mentally ill would come past, and I would literally hand them a cup of cold water, or a bowl of soup, or some bread and butter, and I would find Christ there in their eyes, in their faces. It was the only thing that began to heal my heart. There were no answers to my questions; there was no bright light and the hand of God saying “everything’s okay now.”

Dad didn’t come back; the loss was still epic in my life. But Christ showed up and showed that His love could give me a handle on the loss. And my ability to trust God slowly came back. I don’t know as I’ve so much made peace with all of that as much as Christ stepped in and withdrew the intense pain and installed His peace. It was a long road. I have a hard time with Christians who just stick with the “though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Sounds really good, and it makes you look like a super-servant. But until you’ve had to fall flat on your face in front of God in total despair and defeat—and find Christ with His arms around you, waiting at the end of your rope—then it’s not helpful to brag about how you would never fall apart because yourfaith is the brand-name, heaven-certified real Christian one. You have no idea until you are near-drowning what the fresh air of real gritty Christ-love is.

MN-The chapter titled “This is the Day That the Lord Hath Made” literally took my breath away. You so eloquently parallel living in the moment with the vision of a child on a swing as the sun sets, and all that matters is the crickets and the screech of the swing chains. It took me right back to my trusted, old swing and I realized how much we don’t experience living in the present. Do you think it is the responsibility of adulthood or a world spinning out of control that is to blame?

JH- God only gives us today, this moment! I know that, yet I forget that memo a hundred times a day. My pining for or regretting yesterday, or projecting and fretting about tomorrow, is to miss the point of following Christ. Childrenget that; children can be so totally absorbed in a project—or a dandelion—that they are oblivious to any other fact. My moments as a child on the swing set at home—I can still feel it and hear it and smell the garden scents—were totallypresent and full of joy.

When I remember to just be where my feet are at this moment, life is good! But I’m usually wandering off to the weekend schedule, the phone calls I have to make, the arrangements and plans and agendas. I can psychoanalyze that it’s having more responsibility as an adult, or the world putting a thousand demands on me, or having overextended myself so that I can feel superior to you, or because I’m the second child in the birth order and need to prove myself—or something. But I have the choice—right now—if I want to hold God’s hand in the now and dwell in humble peace, or race off towards next Tuesday’s shenanigans. I’m still learning.

MN-No matter where the reader is in their faith journey, they will be able to relate completely with your stories in To See The Sky. The umbrella message is one of grace. Why did you choose that concept to write about?

JH-The articles and poetry that I’ve written for magazines over the years were always about God’s grace in my life, whether I was overtly focusing on grace or just alluding to it, or even if I was oblivious to it. I’ve always wanted to write a book, and I was always told to write what I know! And since I am a fallible, ill-tempered, depressive, skeptical, cynical late-bloomer/person of faith/child of God who is, nevertheless, loved to pieces by God, it was a natural direction! I don’t know as I chose it so much as it chose me.

MN-You have a gift of bringing a sense of closure to the open ended experiences and questions everyone struggles with. Is there a personal message you have for readers that are confused by God’s silence and are lacking peace?

JH-That place where God is hard to find, where everything you’ve believed in is being refined in the fire, where losses are so deep that it seems like even God can’t fill the void, are terrible places to be. I’ve had perfectly well-meaning Christians say to me “well, don’t you think you should be over that by now?” or “God doesn’t want you depressed,” or the ever-popular “It was God’s will that (fill-in-the-blank).” I’ve been told that I don’t have enough faith, and now I can proclaim for an absolute fact: yes, that’s absolutely true. I do not have enough faith to explain away why my father died too young, or why my mother is a paranoid schizophrenic, or why terrible things happen to the dearest of people. I don’t know why you’re suffering what you’re suffering right now, and no one’s holy-sounding explanation is going to help your heart. The comfort is this: there is a God in the universe who is personally involved with you. (Love makes Him pretty involved.)

You and I aren’t entitled to have all the explanations for the pain on a silver platter. What we do--and sometimes it’s enduring for one minute at a time--is to stay where our feet are, cry our hearts out, and wait for God to show up. In my experience, there is always a healing, a shift in the pain, a way out. It is a hard road, this faith thing. I used to think I had it all sewn up: God loved me and had a wonderful plan for my life, and that was all I needed. But life gets convoluted, and God doesn’t always take you where you think He will. He is bigger than any concept I could possibly have of Him. And who or what else do I have to trust in on this planet? I’ve leaned into His grace, and He always comes through. Eventually. And He is always worth the wait.

Author Bio: Judith Hugg was brought up in New Jersey in the 1950s. She has been writing since she was ten when her mother let her use the family’s ancient, dusty Royal typewriter. She can still remember the sour smell of that oil and the ink-ribbon. (You could only type in black or red then, and mistakes were forever.) Judith was writing seriously at 17 when she had her first poem published in The Sunday School Times. She has written for a number of Christian magazines since then. This is her first book. You can find out more about Judith by visiting her website: http://www.judithhugg.tateauthor.com

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

Other interviews featured in The Wordsmith Journal Magazine's June issue: Donita K. Paul, Donna Fitts & Jocelyn Green.

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Jocelyn Green Interview with Mary Nichelson

ACFA is proud to partner with The Wordsmith Journal Magazine to feature authors interviewed in that publication on our blog.

Readers and fans of historical fiction are in for a treat when Jocelyn Green’s book Wedded to War is released in July, which is the first in a four-part series focusing on “real women who actually lived and made a difference in the (civil) war”. Who better to tackle the enormous project than one who has already written about-and for-military families. The only challenge to writingWedded to War was crossing over from fiction to nonfiction, Green claims. You’ve heard ‘truth is stranger than fiction’, but in this novel, truth and fiction intercept and run parallel, giving credibility to the narrative, and likability to the history behind the story. Green cleverly balances Biblical truths with historical accuracy, and admits that is the basis behind the Heroines Behind the Lines series.

MN-You wrote four non-fiction books prior to writing your first novel, Wedded to War. Although all of your books are related to the military, it must have been challenging to go from writing non-fiction to fiction. Did you have any difficulties while tackling your first piece of non-fiction?

JG-I had a huge learning curve ahead of me when I decided to make the switch! I have so much more respect for novelists now than I ever did before. I literally went to Barnes & Noble and bought all the books on writing a novel I could find. Then I went to the Writer’s Digest Web site and bought more. I have books on character, plot & structure, the different types of scenes, voice, setting, etc. (You can see a list of my eleven favorites here.) I also joined American Christian Fiction Writers right away and downloaded their workshop handouts to help me map out the characters and plot. I probably spent months learning the craft of writing a novel before I actually started writing. And then of course, I would go back to my mini-library on novel writing all along the way to make sure I was on track, or to make course corrections.

But you can only learn so much about great novel writing from a how-to book. So I also spent lots of time reading really good novels for all the little things that are “caught, not taught.” Reading award-winning novels became the most enjoyable part of my research.

By the time I was done researching my time period for the novel, and how to write a novel, I only had about two months to actually write the book. The hardest part of the entire process was just that time crunch.

MN-Tell us about the Heroines Behind the Lines series.

JG-There are four books in this series, each one focusing on a different aspect of the Civil War. Each of the books are inspired by real women who actually lived and made a difference in the war—but have been mostly unsung heroes. Rather than following the same characters throughout the series, readers will find new people and stories to fall in love with in each book. The first book takes place in New York City, Washington and the Virginia Peninsula. The second book takes place in Gettysburg, Philadelphia, and a few sea islands in the South. The third is set in and around Atlanta, and the fourth is in Richmond, Virginia.

The series is historically accurate but rest assured, the books won’t read like a history text book. There is enough drama and conflicted characters for anyone who just wants an emotionally absorbing novel.

MN-The first in the series, Wedded to War, focuses on The United States Sanitary Commission and it’s affect on The Civil War. Comprised of nurses, The Sanitary Commission single handedly promoted sterile conditions necessary for medical treatment both in the field and make shift hospitals. It also provided kind hearted individuals to minister to dying soldiers. These nurses are true heroes. Explain some of the restrictions they had to meet to enter the nursing program and later, the obstacles they would face in caregiving.

JG-Many women eventually just showed up to volunteer at the hospitals. But if they wanted to be trained in a nursing program, like my main character and the person who inspired her, she had to complete a written application, provide references as to her character, be interviewed by two committees, and prove she was in general good health.

These nurses also could not wear jewelry, hoops under their skirts, or ruffles or ribbons on their dress. They had to be older than 30 (with few exceptions granted and then regretted), preferably married or widowed. Also, the Superintendent of Female Nurses, Miss Dorothea Dix, required that they be homely in appearance, so as not to arouse the “frustrated desires” of the male patients. So for a beautiful, single 28-year-old to break into this field was a challenge, to say the least.

The obstacles they faced in care giving, once they were accepted as nurses, were many. Usually the male doctors they worked with didn’t want them there in the first place because hospitals had been in the male domain up until then. So many doctors made life absolutely miserable for the nurses in order to get them to give up. Women nurses who were trained to be in supervisory roles were made to do the most menial, disgusting chores in the hospitals (think no running water, no water closets in the building). They were also given a terrible diet of food, not much better than a soldier’s rations, and made to sleep in extremely uncomfortable places. Sexual harassment was also present in some cases. There were more challenges than this—you’ll have to read Wedded to War to find out what they were! J

MN-Ruby’s character is fascinating. She represents a lot of women who walk around in undeserved shame. How can we, as women, shed that identity when it’s wrongly thrust upon us?

JG-I love Ruby’s character, too. I think we can all sympathize with her, or even relate to her. To answer your question, we can reject lies about ourselves, whether they form in our own minds, or are spoken by others, when “we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). What does that mean, exactly? It means we make a habit of lining up our thoughts against the truth of Scripture.

For example, we’re all sinners, aren’t we? We make mistakes. We do wrong. Satan wants us to believe we are irreparably damaged by those sins, and that those sins absolutely define us. But here’s where we take that thought captive and obedient to Christ—what does God say about our sin? 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” So there you have it. We need to choose to believe God’s opinion of us rather than anyone else’s. And we can learn God’s perspective only from being rooted in the Bible and by prayer.

MN-Charlotte is a strong woman who understands her identity and is not afraid to be authentic to that identity. What would you say to the reader who is struggling with knowing who they are, but are afraid to counter social or familial expectations to become that person?

JG-I would remind them of Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” To me, this verse calls us to do what we believe God wants us to with our lives, even if others don’t understand it. Very often, doing the right thing is not the popular thing. But as long as you seek after God’s will for your life with all your heart and mind, you’ll be doing the right thing. That means you have to really search, with more than just your emotions. Study the Bible. Pray. Talk to your pastor and other trusted Christians. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). One more caution here—sometimes we think we have our plan or our identity all figured out before consulting God about it. Be open to the idea that God may surprise you with a different path for your life than the one you’ve chosen.

Now, having said that, if you do have peace that you’re following God’s will for your life and purpose, go for it with full confidence, and if others don’t agree with you, let God work on their hearts. You just do what God wants from you.

MN-There are many one-liners that cause the reader to pause and think. For instance, at one point, Alice says to her sister Charlotte,“Sometimes the people who most need our help are the ones God has already placed in our lives.” What did you want conveyed most through that statement?

JG-I hope that readers will simply think about who they already have influence over in their lives, and ask God to show them how to minister to them. There are many people with needs, and God has given each of us certain gifts and abilities to meet those needs. It’s wonderful to reach out and try to reach the world for Christ—but we are not indispensable to everyone out there. We are indispensable to a few people, though, and those people we should not neglect.

For example, I have a ministry to military wives through my books and a Web site and Facebook page. I believe God has called me to that—but I also know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my biggest ministry is my family. That means I turn down some opportunities to travel and speak to military wives because with my kids being so young, they need me home right now. And I know there are dozens of other qualified Christian military wife speakers who could fill a speaking slot and bless their listeners. But no one else can take my place as “mommy” so I really try to limit the number of trips I take per year.

I also want to emphasize the word “sometimes” in the line you quoted. Please use discretion when you are reading this, because there will be times that God does call us to leave everything and everyone we are familiar with to go serve him somewhere else. My brother and sister-in-law, for example, are missionaries to France. He’s the only brother I have, and no one can replace him in that role, but God has clearly called him out to go serve Christ half way around the world.

So my intention is not to tell people what to do or what not to do, but simply to prompt a little thinking.

MN-The idea of being free or set free is a strong element throughout Wedded to War. What does the word freedom mean to you?

JG-Yes, it is. Freedom often conjures up the idea of democracy, liberty, and rights. But the other side of freedom is internal. Even if I live in the “land of the free,” if my heart, spirit, or mind is bound up by sin or deception, I’m not truly free. Ruby’s character illustrates this—she wasn’t really free for a long time. She was enslaved to guilt, shame, and lies. But Jesus sets the captives free.

MN-You have stated on your website that you aren’t a blogger because you don’t want to “become an overcommitted crazy person.”  Being present and available for your family is important to you, isn’t it?

JG-It is. I do blog a little bit, but if you visit my blog for military wives (faithdeployed.com) you’ll notice that most of the posts are written from other military wives. I’m happy to delegate both to give me more time to be with my family, and also because there is so much wisdom that other women have to share. I’m happy to give them an outlet for it through my blog.

And I never take a book contract lightly, because I know when I sign the dotted line, it affects my whole family because I’ll be spending time on the book, away from them. Thankfully, my parents live close by and they are wonderful to watch the kids when I need some more time. My husband is really supportive in that way, too. So I do pray for a long time before going into any negotiations for a new book.

As I mentioned earlier, my family is my number one ministry. I’m blessed that they are flexible so I can write books, too. I tend to write in spurts, so it’s not like I’m always holed away up in my office. For example, I spent nine months researching Wedded to War, and then three months writing it. While I research, I can still be with the kids, in the same room with them while I read and take notes, and take breaks to take them to the park or play Candyland. Then for the three months of writing, it’s sort of like cramming, and I try to find 4-6 hours a day of uninterrupted writing time. It looks like this will be the pattern for my second novel, The Widow of Gettysburg, too!

Author Bio: Jocelyn Green, the wife of a former Coast Guard officer, is an award-winning author, freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2008), along with contributing writers, and its sequel, Faith Deployed...Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2011). She is also co-author of Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq/Afghanistan (AMG Publishers 2009). Jocelyn's debut novel, Wedded to War, releases in July 2012 from River North Fiction.You can learn more about Jocelyn Green at her website (jocelyngreen.com) and through facebook (facebook.com/jocelyngreenauthor)  

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

Other interviews featured in the June edition of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine: Donita K. Paul, Donna Fitts and Judith Hugg

This interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine

Donna Fitts Interview with Mary Nichelson

ACFA is proud to partner with The Wordsmith Journal Magazine to feature authors interviewed in that publication on our blog.

Unlike many authors, Donna Fitts had no aspirations to become a writer. “I have always been a starter but not much of a finisher. I never, ever dreamed of writing a book. Certainly not a romance novel!” But that is exactly what she has successfully accomplished in her novel, An Unexpected Romance. While the word unexpected defines her journey to writing, it also embraces the concept of her book; surprises can happen to anyone, at anytime. Why would the mother of two children, grandmother of five grandchildren who loves Snickers candy bars, strawberries and snorkeling in coral reefs, tackle a writing project pertaining to romance in the twilight years? I quickly learned to expect the unexpected when it came to interviewing this energetic woman of faith.

MN-As a Navy mom, I am surprised by how many military families I encounter daily. Your father was in the Air Force, which I am sure stamped your passport several times. Can you name a few of the places you have been and which one was your favorite?

DF-We lived in a number of different states, including  Missouri, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, and California, but my favorite place was Tripoli, Libya.  While we were there, we lived in a couple of cool places before my dad was able to get base housing.  One of those was a farm where the long private drive was lined by almond trees.  When there were almond on the trees, we kids were known to reach out the windows as Daddy drove down the driveway and try to grab the green almonds off the trees.  We spent three wonderful years there, at Wheelus Air Force base.  We also were able to travel in the area and see a number of different Roman ruins.  I was actually baptized in the Mediterranean Sea while we were there.

MN-Let's talk about your new book, An Unexpected Romance. It didn't always have that title. Why was in changed from Prodigals?

DF-When I first titled the book, my husband didn't like the title.  At first I was convinced that Prodigals was the right name for it, but later developed mixed feelings about it. The publisher found that when women were asked about that name, they were not favorable.  Most thought it was a  self-help book. The publishing team put their heads together, several titles were suggested, and we kind of bogged down for a bit. Then, while discussing the content of the book with someone, I used the phrase, "an unexpected romance," and we decided that was the perfect title for the book.  So, my husband was right, after all!

MN-In writing the book, you found a need and filled it. You stated there were no novels written that targeted the mature woman. I think it is brilliant and certainly God inspired. How hard was it to write for a target audience from the beginning instead of writing and then figuring out who your audience is?

DF-It really wasn't difficult.  I honestly did not think about the audience.  I just wrote about the characters.  I know it probably sounds a bit strange, but I didn't even know how the story would unfold or how it would end.  I felt inspired by God to write it, and it almost seemed to write itself once I got started.  I would sit down at the computer, and start typing and the next thing I knew, another chapter was finished.  I think the most difficult part was letting go of the idea that the cover had to feature a senior citizen couple.  I actually didn't let go of that idea until I realized that the book really could appeal to readers who are not senior citizens.

MN-Even though Elizabeth is a senior citizen, I have to admit that I could relate to her character on many levels. Don't you think that proves that whether we read about a fictional character set in the 1700's or a contemporary senior citizen, we are basically the same at heart making it necessary to not discredit our ability to learn from others just because they are different?

DF-I absolutely agree that we can learn from reading about people who are, on the surface, very different from ourselves.  We learn from Jesus' parables, and they are definitely different from us in many, many ways.  The important thing is the ways they are like us.  When I first started writing this book, my husband said he just didn't see why I would feel that writing a novel could be something that might help others.  I reminded him that Jesus used parables--which are kind of like mini novels--and that sometimes it is easier for people to learn from stories than direct teaching, because stories are less threatening.

MN-Is there a little bit of Donna in Elizabeth?

DF-A little bit.  Elizabeth is very  concerned about the environment and conservation. She enjoys helping others. She still believes that there are absolutes in God's commandments, regardless of what the current culture thinks.

MN-You were certified through seminary to teach which led to your current position, Director of a preschool academy. That takes a lot of patience. Is that a virtue of yours?

DF-Actually, I only studied religious education in general at seminary.  It was my experience as a teacher and a principal in  elementary school that really prepared me for this position. The things I learned not only about teaching, but also about budgets and administration are very instrumental in being a successful director of a preschool.  I think being an elementary school principal took more patience than being a director of a preschool.  Being a director of a preschool is such a daily joy!  There is nothing better than going to "work" every day at church and "work" being the joy of being around God's precious little ones!

MN-Will there be a sequel to An Unexpected Romance and are there any other writing projects on your agenda?

DF-I have started a sequel, featuring one of Elizabeth's younger sisters, a very angry and sad woman who trusts virtually no one. I do have several other ideas for books, but enjoy my daytime job so much, I must admit I am not doing a lot of writing.  The second book is certainly not moving along as quickly as the first one did!

Author Bio: Donna Fitts has a wealth of different life experiences to draw on for her work, including overcoming abuse as a child, traveling the world with her Air Force dad, being a single mother on welfare to marrying and graduating college Magna Cum Laude.Donna's easy writing style allows the reader to see herself and her friends in her writing, but also directs the reader back to the ultimate authority: God's Holy Bible.

Donna is a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southeastern Louisiana University, and California State University. She has served more than 30 years in churches and in public schools, and is currently serving as Director of a Christian preschool after retiring as an elementary school principal in Rhode Island.  

You can learn more about author Donna by visiting her website http://www.donnafitts.com

About Mary Nichelson: http://www.marysworld411.com/

Other interviews featured in The Wordsmith Journal: Donita K. Paul, Jocelyn Green, and Judith Hugg.

Donna Fitts interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Donita K. Paul interview with Mary Nichelson

ACFA is excited to partner with The Wordsmith Journal Magazine and feature authors interviewed in that publication.

Author Donita K. Paul is about as versatile as a writer can get. She has successfully secured an audience through her two allegorical fiction series, The Chiril Chronicles and The Dragon Keeper Chronicles, while appealing to readers of romance and children’s books. Satisfying such a diverse audience takes talent, a strong connection to readers, a bit of heavenly inspiration, as well as a divergent personality. This is evident on Paul’s website where she incorporates art, photography, homeschool helps and yes, her favorite books. Her circle of (author) friends include Lori Copeland, Lauraine Snelling, Brandilyn Collins, and Lynn Austin. With such a broad range of input and inspiration, Paul is able to reach an expansive audience seemingly effortlessly as she endeavors to entertain, and in the case of her recent book Taming the Wild Wind, reveal a practical application for the Christian journey.

MN-Writing about Indians in your book Taming the Wild Wind is not just a side bar of research. Tell us about your Cherokee heritage.

DP-My grandfather died with one of his sons in a drowning accident. My mother barely remembers him, but she remembers her mother’s side of the family had little to do with her father’s side. Her mother never invited both sides of the family to the house at the same time. That was curious but didn’t bother her too much. She was an outdoorsy gal and roamed the banks of the Wabash, particularly the woods near by. There she would play that she was an Indian princess. After she was grown she found out why the two sides of her family were antagonistic toward each other. Her mother had married a half-breed. Back then there was much prejudice and not much tolerance. My mom was thrilled to learn she was a quarter Cherokee. Years later she taught me an Indian dance in the living room of our house in Houston. Jump years ahead again and I was at a Native American Powwow and I saw some Cherokee tribesmen dance that same dance. I guess she knew what she was talking about. It all came from books, though. She never got to know the family that quit coming to visit after her dad died.

MN-The saying goes that there is truth in fiction. What is the basis of truth found in Taming the Wild Wind?

DP-Ida is casual Christian. All her life, she has followed her own path, and there is nothing overtly wrong with her choices. She knows Christ as her Savior, God as her Father, and the Holy Spirit as her Comforter. But she hasn’t grasped that God is also her Lord. She doesn’t consider herself disobedient to her parents because she avoids the conflict and doesn’t act out an obnoxious rebellion. She has not taken to heart that God sees the attitude that is behind the action. I Samuel 16:7 “for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (NASB) And when a Christian doesn’t seek God’s wisdom, he can be caught up in sin without being aware. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (NASB) In her new situation, she is draws closer to God and realizes that going against her parents’ wishes was rebellion whether she was caught or not.

MN-Ida is an influential main character. She is rebellious in the best of ways, standing up for the very ones she is expected to shun. Do you think women a hundred years ago were stronger in that aspect than we are today?

DP-I guess it depends on what history book you read or which historical females you have researched. I believe we have a mix of people now much like the ones who lived then. You have Harriet Tubman and all the people who helped her with the Underground Railroad. But you also have seriously selfish New York debutantes.

Also you have to take into account what culture influenced these people. I had a friend whose great grandmother was a nice enough woman, but she was from the farming south. She used derogatory terms for any race but her own. I think that arrogant, obnoxious attitude was taught to her and those who were raised in a similar background. No baby comes out of the womb with a desire to wear a white sheet and burn crosses in someone’s yard. I think we could find a woman from a hundred years ago who was stronger in protecting the underprivileged just as we could go out and find a woman in our own neighborhood who would stand up for what is right.

MN-Ida represents the wild, carefree characteristics many women hide and even deny. Not in that she wanted to live life without responsibility, but that she wanted to live on her terms. She developed her talents in spite of the restrictions of her society. Is it safe for women to unleash this wild side?

DP-Actually, Ida’s formative years were spent in getting away with what she could without any consideration as to God’s will. Her mother set high standards, but Ida dismissed them. Self-absorbed, Ida did what she wanted, like visiting the Irish family, and carefully kept the action from coming to her parents’ attention. We can look at Ida’s wild side and realize that the actions were not necessarily evil, but the attitude was an encumbrance that kept her from running the race in her life. When the Lord worked with her spirit in the lonely mission house, He tamed her wild wind. It is safe for women to explore their gifts, challenge ungodly behavior, stand up for the downhearted as long as the women are grounded in God’s Word and submissive to God’s will.

MN-You have mentioned your struggle to becoming a Christian and trying to act the part prior to it becoming an authentic lifestyle. How would you describe your life as a Christian now?

DP-I’m a very easy-going Christian. I admit to being a bit of a zealot after conversion. But God softened me. Do you know much about Brother Lawrence? He took praying without ceasing literally and every conversation, every task was done in the awareness that God is a participant, not a distant god, but a Present God. About eight years ago, one of my friends wrote a book that helps to explain. Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader (Quiet Times for the Heart) by Robert Elmer and Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

I have very strong convictions about what the Bible says, what God wants us to do and what He wants us to be. But I’m not called to be a street corner preacher. God has given me specific talents and helped me develop them. I’m a storyteller as are many in my family. I know from the emails I get that God has used this to change hearts and move His children. DragonSpell has sold close to 150,000 copies. If one little nugget of truth came through to a troubled mind with each book, the effect is astounding. And I chuckle, because it isn’t me, it’s Him.

MN-As a proponent of literacy, what are some steps that you suggest parents can take to encourage their children to read?

DP-The first would be to model reading. Children who see their parents sitting with a good book will want to get the same pleasure from their books. Read to the child and be enthusiastic. The parent who has to be coerced to read a bedtime story isn’t sending positive messages about the joy of reading. Discuss books. Ask the children questions in the car, at breakfast, during dinner, and make observations about the books they read. “I liked that book we read last night. The one about the lost mouse. What was the title? Shall we read it again tonight? What would you do if a big mean cat was between you and mommy?”

Make books available and model treating books with respect.  Get excited when they get a book as a gift. Help them shop for books as gifts to relatives. This grandma loves to get books. I’ve found that the bargain books at Barnes and Noble are fantastic. The children are drawn to the bigness and the flashy colors and the unusual topics of the coffee table books. What grandpa doesn’t want a huge thick book with glossy pictures of Spanish castles? You might want to suggest to Grandpa to demonstrate his enthusiasm.

MN-You have written children's books, historical fiction, romance, and contemporary fiction. In which genre is it the easiest for you to write?

DP-The easiest book I’ve written recently was Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball. This is a contemporary romance with a touch of fantasy. I was tired of the same old same old, and rested by writing this delightful “Made for TV-type” light tale. It took me less than six weeks. It was fun. I want to go back to Sage Street and revisit the modern matchmaking wizards who live there.

MN-Your favorite Bible verse?

DP-Right now: I Corinthians 15:58 “With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.” (The Message) Isn’t that a beautiful message for anyone in the mission field? Whether you are a preacher in the Sunday pulpit, a missionary calming the fears of new believers in Iraq, a medical missionary performing surgery in Africa, or a writer, stand your ground! Don’t hold back. Nothing you do for HIM is wasted.

Author Bio: Donita K. Paul retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy. She says, “I feel blessed to be doing what I like best.”

She mentors all ages, teaching teenagers and weekly adult writing workshops.

“God must have imprinted 'teacher' on me clear down to the bone. I taught in public school, then home schooled my children, and worked in private schools. Now my writing week isn’t very productive unless I include some time with kids.”

Her two grown children make her proud, and her two grandsons make her laugh. You can read more about author Donita Paul at:http://www.donitakpaul.com

For more author interviews featured in The Wordsmith Journal:
Donna Fitts, Jocelyn Green, and Judith Hugg. 

About Mary Nichelson. 

Interview is courtesy of The Wordsmith Journal Magazine.

Cooking Up Characters by Tina Pinson

Now, I don't actually mean I'm going to lay my poor sweet character on the chopping block and have my way at her with a Hachette, and make some kind goulash out of them. Nor will my character and I get all chummy, pull out our cookbooks and rustle up some grub.

Let’s face it. My characters aren't real. So to carry on a cooking conversation with anyone of them would be quite tough and I'd probably end up talking to myself.

But if I were to write a recipe for my character, what ingredients might I use?

Let's start with a dash emerald for eye color. Add a sprinkle of daisies for hair color. A couple of teaspoons of peaches and cream for her skin. D drizzle on some rose honey on her lips. I'd make her lean and lithe with just a pinch of fat. And voilà… the reader now has an idea about how my character might look.

Next I might garnish her with some clothes. Beings that I write Christian fiction, it is good to dress my characters. How I dress my character gives the reader insight to my character's tastes. It might tell you whether they are poor or wealthy.

Next we add dashes of their lives. Peel back the layers of their lives. I might sift in some spice about their job? Blend up whether married? Widowed? Single? Engaged?

From there I might sprinkle in some anecdotes from their past.

You might see how they grew up.

After I've added all these things, are you satisfied with the character? Or is she still just a bit one dimensional?

So after we've taken care of the aesthetics of a character, we need to begin to check out her psyche. What, beyond brushing her pretty blonde hair, or working her job, makes this character tick?

We need a dollop of heart. A smattering of emotion, (or maybe a gallon). We need to dice up her fears. Saute her hopes and dreams? How does she feel about herself? About the world around her?

The deeper I look in to my character, the more dimensional she becomes. The more I understand her. Is she funny? Sassy? A klutz?

Is she brave? Afraid? Driven? An Adventurer?

Granted… I'm not just going to list all this in a story. That would be utterly boring. But once I dissect my character and find out what makes her who she is, I can write her better. Write her and hopefully make a reader want to know more about her.

Here are some examples:

Read them and let me know what you learned, if anything, about the character.

From When Shadows Fall

His lips thin, his eyes lit with recognition. She saw a remnant of the man she loved and knew. He remained hidden deep behind the cover of sickness. She removed her costume hairpiece so he could see her hair. He smiled.

"Rebekah, love. It is you," his whisper was hoarse, weak. He could barely move. Following her movements with his hollow eyes only seemed to tax his strength, so he closed them. She wiped his fevered brow, allowed herself to cry, then laid beside him to rest. His breathing was labored, bones showed through his skin, but he was alive and she would do all she could to keep him that way.

"I love you," she whispered, and closed her swollen eyes to sleep.

Andrew woke, saw the man and practically planted himself in Rebekah. He stayed there shivering with fear until he realized who it was. "It's Daddy. Mommy."

Rebekah folded her arms around him. "Yes, darling, it's Daddy. And Daddy is very sick so we have to be very quiet. All right?"

Andrew nodded and took a closer look at Robert. Night had blanketed his wounds in the shadows. The light of day painted Robert's emaciation in full, horrific color. The look of him would unsettle anyone, especially a boy. Black rings encircled Robert's eyes. His skin was a pasty gray color that looked as flimsy as parchment. He was beyond sick. Rebekah wondered about the wounds that lay beneath the surface. She would concentrate on his physical healing and deal with the rest when the time arose.

Touched By Mercy

Jethro snorted and slapped his thigh. Allan sat in silence. Sam was at the Chicken Ranch. Allan had a dilemma of his own. How did he get Samantha to notice him? And what were Preston's intentions concerning her?

"So the Lord said you'd meet your new wife at the Chicken Ranch?" Jethro said with a mischievous smile.

"That's about the size of it." Preston's lips curled.
 "That does pose a problem. There's a house full of women over there."
Preston's eyes rolled. "You aren't telling me anything new, Jethro."


"Did the good Lord tell you how you'll know her? Any bolts out of the blue?" Allan flung his arm over the empty chair next to him.


"Maybe a letter from heaven," Jethro said solemnly. He and Allan looked up in quiet anticipation.


"Maybe a rash or a fever," Allan added, his gaze landing on Preston.
Preston sneered slightly. "All He said was, I'd know."
"Well, that poses a problem," Allan said.


"Jethro already said as much." Preston chuckled. "Are we talking about me or you?"

"Both of us," Allan declared. Saying what all three knew. "The Lord said your wife is inthat house and, while He didn't come out and specify mine was there, I've got my eye on someone. How can I be sure I'm not stepping in where the Lord wants you to be?"

Jethro laughed. "Have mercy, if this don't beat all." Allan looked at him through narrowed eyes. Jethro's hand went to his chest. "Don't look at me. I done picked my wife. You two have to work this out alone." With that he rose and left. Allan could hear him chuckling clean out the building.

From Counting Tessa

Strapped at her ankles and wrists; a prisoner in a birthing bed somewhere in the lowest corridor of a hospital with an unknown name, she lay panting. The lights sputtered and spit overhead, practically keeping time with the rhythm of her heart. A curse of life and death hung over her head. Life – the children in her womb. Death – her sentence when those children were born.

She prayed for the children to wait, but each contraction signaled their impatience. She prayed for freedom from her shackles, but her wrists were raw from trying to find release. The second hand of the large black and white clock continued to turn, ticking off the moments, giving her hope, however dismal, that she might greet the next day. But she knew when the solitary figure arrived—a dark angel in pale green scrubs—and uncovered a row of gleaming silver instruments, death awaited her.

What do you do to get to know your character better? Do you do a complete workup of them? So you understand them from the inside out. Learning their history? Their faith? Their fears?

Do tell?